The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Nigerians
should endure the electricity tariffs and hike in petrol price for now and
enjoy the gains later.
In a statement signed by Yekini Nabena, its deputy national
publicity secretary, on Tuesday, the political party said the benefits of the
reforms will be obvious to all soon.
“APC is not oblivious of the financial strains brought by
the increase in fuel pump price and electricity rates. We urge Nigerians to
endure now and enjoy gains soon,” the political party said.
“The reviews are crucial and hard thought decisions by
government. On the positive side, the short and long-term benefits on the
citizenry and our national life will become obvious and directly felt in
critical sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and social services
targeted at the poor.”
The ruling political party said the current administration’s
focus is to improve local refining capacities, electricity and service delivery
while also protecting vulnerable Nigerians from arbitrary and estimated
electricity billing.
“We call on all stakeholders, government at all levels,
private sector organizations, labour unions, civil societies, students and
youth groups to support governments decision on the ongoing deregulation
exercise as the citizens will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
“We urge stakeholders, particularly the organised labour
such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
not to be hoodwinked by skewed opposition party narratives on the deregulation
exercise and electricity tariffs.
“The same partisans have failed to account for and return
trillions of naira stolen from national coffers in the guise of subsidizing
fuel and the degrading of the electricity sector under their watch despite huge
allocations and subsequent theft of the resources meant to improve the sector.”
Various groups, including labour unions, have kicked against
the federal government’s decision to halt electricity and petrol subsidies.
They argue that the timing is not right given that jobs and
livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum
resources, says the country will save N1 trillion annually from fuel subsidy removal
that can be used to improve the lives of Nigerians.
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